The ongoing re-verification of ration cards in Jammu & Kashmir is causing concern among residents due to unclear rules and data issues. Many people are worried they might lose access to essential food supplies.
Official numbers show that millions in J&K still don’t have a ration card, which points to administrative problems. The Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA) website states that only 1.1 crore people have been enrolled in different ration card categories like AAY, PHH, NPHH, and Exclusion Cards. However, the 2011 Census shows J&K’s population is about 1.25 crore, including 2.74 lakh from Ladakh. This means around 21 lakh people lack a ration card.
In 2016, the government aimed to include 74 lakh people under the Priority Household (PHH) category. But so far, only 57.83 lakh have been enrolled, leaving out 17 lakh people who need to be added.
The re-verification process might exclude many from the PHH category. According to S.O 389, anyone earning more than ₹5 lakh annually will be removed from PHH and placed in the Exclusion Card category, which doesn’t get subsidized rations. This could affect 2 to 3 lakh people.
The biggest issue is the unclear rules of S.O 389, which do not clearly define who qualifies for PHH and NPHH categories. This vagueness allows local committees to interpret the rules differently, leading to possible misuse and unfair exclusions.
People are worried that those who deserve help might be left out. If the re-verification isn’t done transparently with clear criteria, it could lead to public dissatisfaction and unrest.
Residents urge the government to address these issues quickly to ensure everyone who deserves benefits receives them.
